Cindy A. Gierhart

Cynthia A. "Cindy" Gierhart is a Washington, D.C., litigation attorney whose practice focuses on media, trademark, copyright and entertainment law.

Ms. Gierhart has represented clients in litigation involving right of publicity, defamation, trademark, copyright, trade secrets and access to judicial records. She was part of a team that secured a victory in one of the first civil Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) jury trials. Ms. Gierhart also protects clients' trademarks and copyrights by monitoring third-party uses, as well as responds to pre-litigation claims of copyright or trademark infringement. She has negotiated numerous book publishing and podcast agreements.

Additionally, Ms. Gierhart has extensive experience representing developers in zoning appeals before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, as well as engaging in all aspects of general commercial litigation, including numerous contract and property disputes.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Gierhart serves as co-coordinator of the Women's Initiative for the Washington, D.C., office.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Gierhart clerked for the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She also worked as a legal fellow with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and at the American Association for Justice.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Gierhart worked for eight years as a newspaper reporter and editor, project manager in book publishing and freelance book editor. She brings this perspective to her work advising clients on First Amendment and publishing issues. In addition, Ms. Gierhart taught a media law course as an adjunct professor at American University.